Multi-length bucking attachment

ABSTRACT

A bucking apparatus to be used in conjunction with a loader and topping saw that are mounted to a logging platform or trailer. The bucking apparatus is attached to the loader and includes a plurality of hatches. The hatches can be adjusted for different lengths so that different length logs can be cut when eliminating faults from the trees. The hatches of the bucking apparatus are measured to be particular distances from the topping saw and so, when a tree is pulled through the topping saw with the loader, the end being held can be aligned with one of the hatches, and then the saw can be engaged thus creating a log of the particular length.

BACKGROUND

As the Monty Python song goes “I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK, I sleep allnight and I work all day”. Lumberjacks are North American workers in thelogging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport oftrees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usuallyrefers to a bygone era (before 1945 in the United States) when handtools were used in harvesting trees.¹ ¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumberjack

The term lumberjack is of Canadian derivation. The first attested use ofthe word comes from an 1831 letter to the Cobourg Star and GeneralAdvertiser in the following passage: “my misfortunes have been broughtupon me chiefly by an incorrigible, though perhaps useful, race ofmortals called LUMBERJACKS, whom, however, I would name the Cossack's ofUpper Canada, who, having been reared among the oaks and pines of thewild forest, have never been subjected to the salutary restraint oflaws.”² ² Ibid.

Today, a more common term for a lumberjack is “logger”. Logging is thecutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs ontotrucks or skeleton cars. Modern technology changed the job of the modernlogger considerably. Although the basic task of harvesting trees isstill the same, the machinery and tasks are no longer the same. Many ofthe old job specialties on logging crews are now obsolete.

Chainsaws, harvesters, and feller bunchers are now used to cut or felltrees. The tree is turned into logs by removing the limbs (delimbing)and cutting it into logs of optimal length (bucking). The felled tree orlogs are moved from the stump to the landing. Ground vehicles such as askidder or forwarder can pull, carry, or shovel the logs. Cable systems“cars” can pull logs to the landing. Logs can also be flown to thelanding by helicopter. Logs are commonly transported to the sawmillusing trucks. Harvesting methods may include clear cutting or selectivecutting. Concerns over the environmental impact have led to controversyabout modern logging practices. In certain areas of forest loggersre-plant their crop for future generations.

A recent Wall Street Journal survey on the best jobs in the UnitedStates ended by listing being a logger as the “worst” citing “workinstability, poor income and pure danger”. A Bureau of Labor Statisticssurvey of America's most dangerous jobs put loggers at the top of thelist for 2004.

In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used narrowly to describe thelogistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest,usually a sawmill or a lumber yard. In common usage, however, the termmay cover a range of forestry or silviculture activities.

Clearcut logging is not necessarily considered a type of logging but aharvesting or silviculture method, and is simply called clearcutting orblock cutting. In the forest products industry logging companies may bereferred to as logging contractors, with the smaller, non-union crewsreferred to as “gyppo loggers.”

Cutting trees with the highest value and leaving those with lower value,often diseased or malformed trees, is referred to as high grading. It issometimes called selective logging, and confused with selection cutting,the practice of managing stands by harvesting a proportion of trees.

Logging and log processing can be carried out by different methods, ofwhich the following three are considered industrial methods:

Tree-Length Logging/Stem Only Harvesting (SOH)

Trees are felled and then delimbed and topped at the stump. The log isthen transported to the landing, where it is bucked and loaded on atruck. This leaves the slash (and the nutrients it contains) in the cutarea, where it must be further treated if wild land fires are ofconcern.

Whole-Tree Logging (WTL)

Trees and plants are felled and transported to the roadside with top andlimbs intact. There have been advancements to the process which nowallows a logger or harvester to cut the tree down, top, and delimb atree in the same process. This ability is due to the advancement in thestyle felling head that can be used. The trees are then delimbed,topped, and bucked at the landing. This method requires that slash betreated at the landing. In areas with access to cogeneration facilities,the slash can be chipped and used for the production of electricity orheat. Full-tree harvesting also refers to utilization of the entire treeincluding branches and tops. This technique removes both nutrients andsoil cover from the site and so can be harmful to the long term healthof the area if no further action is taken, however, depending on thespecies, many of the limbs are often broken off in handling so the endresult may not be as different from tree-length logging as it mightseem.

Cut-To-Length Logging

Cut-to-length logging is the process of felling, delimbing, bucking, andsorting (pulpwood, sawlog, etc.) at the stump area, leaving limbs andtops in the forest. Harvesters fell the tree, delimb, and buck it, andplace the resulting logs in bunks to be brought to the landing by askidder or forwarder. This method is routinely available for trees up to900 mm (35 in) in diameter. Harvesters are employed effectively in levelto moderately steep terrain. Harvesters are highly computerized tooptimize cutting length, control harvesting area by GPS, and use pricelists for each specific log to archive most economical results duringharvesting.

In cut-to-length logging, one of the first jobs that a new logger isentrusted with is bucking logs into their proper lengths. While one mayconclude that cutting logs to particular lengths is an straight forwardjob, there are actually many complications associated with the process.If all logs were the same, healthy and uniform, it would simplify thejob. However, in the real-world, each tree is different and can poseissues for even for a seasoned logger. As such, a bucker needs to payclose attention to the different characteristics of a tree, they need tohave a knowledge of grade in a log as well as how to cut a log tomaximize the amount of board footage that can be gleaned from thattree.³ ³ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logging

Many techniques are used to determine the length of a log cut andloggers tend to have their own techniques. There are a couple ofmeasuring tools and techniques that are more common than others. Someloggers will use a stick of a specific length, and then starting fromthe butt of the tree, the bucker will lay the stick against the treetrunk, then flip the stick end over end to measure the next length. Thisprocess is continued until the desired length is reached and then thetree is cut at that point. Thus, is a four foot stick is used, thebucker can easily measure out lengths in increments of four feet. Inaddition, a mark can be placed in the middle of the stick to provide twofoot measurements.

Other techniques utilize logger's tape measure. Another technique is todrive stakes in the ground at the desired length.

It should be appreciated that in addition to finding great trees, theprofitability of a logging business is also based on the efficiency withwhich the logger is able to process the trees into logs for beingshipped to the sawmill. The above-described techniques for measuring forbucking can be inefficient and limiting. This is especially realized bythe fact that some trees have diseased areas, crotches, etc. that maylimit the length of the log that can be bucked from the tree. Thus,there is a need in the art for a system and method to buck trees thatincreases the efficiency of the process, achieves the longest cuts aspossible and also provides the flexibility for making shorter cuts asdictated by the nuances of the tree.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The various embodiments of the present invention provide for amulti-length bucking attachment that can be attached to a typicallogging rig including a knuckle boom tractor and topping saw mounted toa logging trailer. The multi-length bucking attachment is secured to thetrailer proximate to the knuckle boom tractor and includes extensionarms that extend from the trailer and terminate with a cross-member. Oneor more hatch arms are attached to the cross-member. Next, themulti-length bucking attachment is calibrated such that the distancebetween the saw blade of the topping saw and the hatch arms of themulti-length bucking attachment are set to precise lengths thatcorrespond with desired log cut lengths. Advantageously, a logger canuse the multi-length bucking attachment to buck trees more efficientlybecause the logger can make cuts of different lengths as necessary toavoid faults in the trees yet, obtain the longest cut possible given thetree faults. Further, the logger can work independently from a buckerbecause the logger can clearly identify the cut lengths by measuringthem against the attachment. These and other advantages of the presentinvention are described in more detail in conjunction with the attacheddrawings.

One embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus that is used inconjunction with logging equipment for measuring cut lengths of trees(referred to as bucking). Typically, the logging equipment includes aloader and a saw that are positioned relative to each other at a fixeddistance.

In this embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base and a measurementruler. The base includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximalend is coupled to the loader, usually by means of a base plate or otherconnection mechanism. The base then extends away from the loader. Insome embodiments, the base includes one or more extension arms that canbe adjusted between a retracted state and a fully extended state. In theretracted state, the logging equipment can be more readily and safelymoved and in the operational state, the device can be used for bucking.In some embodiments, the base includes exactly two extension arms,wherein each extension arm includes a plurality of telescoping sectionsand each extension arm includes a base plate this is attached to theproximal end of the extension arm and that interfaces with the loggingequipment.

The measurement ruler is adjustably attached to a distal end of the baseand includes at least a first hatch. The measurement ruler can beadjusted such that hatch is a particular distance from a saw blade ofthe saw. Advantageously, in this configuration the loader can move atree through the saw until the end of the tree aligns with the hatch andthen actuate the saw blade of the saw to cut the tree at the particularlength corresponding with the hatch.

In some embodiments, the measurement ruler comprises a cross-member thatincludes a left end and a right end. The cross-member is attached to thedistal ends of the extension arms. For instance, in a two-extension armembodiment, the left end is associated with one of the extension armsand the right end is associated with the other extension arm. Further, aplurality of hatches are connected to the cross-member and extendsubstantially perpendicular to the cross-member and away from the base.

In some embodiments, the one or more of the hatches are slideablymounted to the cross-member such that they can be adjusted across thecross-member for selecting particular cut lengths.

Further, in some embodiments, the hatches are constructed of a metaltube that is connected to the cross-member, and a plastic extension isinserted into a distal opening of the metal tube from the cross-member.

When the extension arms are adjustable, the extension arms can beadjusted to change the angle of the cross-member relative to the loggingequipment.

In addition, in some embodiments, the extension arms include a hingedconnector at the distal end and the cross-member is connected to theextension arm by being connected to the hinged connector. Thisconfiguration allows the measuring ruler to be moved between anoperational state and a transport state by moving the hinged connectorfrom one position to another position.

It should also be appreciated that in some embodiments, the cross-memberis slideably mounted to the extension arms such that the cross-membercan be adjusted to change the angle of the cross-member relative to thelogging equipment.

As such, in various of the embodiments, the extension arms and/or thecross-member can be adjusted such that the hatches are substantiallyperpendicular to a tree that is pulled through a saw by the loader andaligned with one of the plurality of hatches.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of buckingtrees. The method includes the action of fixedly orienting a loader anda topping saw relative to each other. This can be done by connecting theequipment to opposing ends of a logging platform or logging trailerthereby fixing their relative positions. A bucking apparatus can beproximate to the loader. In some embodiments, the bucking apparatusincludes a base that includes a proximal end and a distal end, andwherein the proximal end is configured to be coupled in proximity to theloader and extend away from the loader. In addition, the buckingapparatus includes a measurement ruler that is adjustably attached to adistal end of the base. The measurement ruler includes at least a firsthatch and the measurement ruler can be adjusted such that the at leastfirst hatch is a particular distance from a saw blade of the toppingsaw. As such, the loader can move a tree through the topping saw untilthe end of the tree aligns with the at least first hatch and thenactuate the saw blade of the topping saw to cut the tree at theparticular length.

In some embodiments, the measurement ruler includes a plurality ofadjustable hatches. In such embodiments, the method further includesmeasuring from the saw blade a first distance towards the measuringapparatus and aligning a first hatch with the first distance. Also,measuring from the first hatch a second distance and aligning the secondhatch with the second distance. In addition, measuring from the firsthatch an nth distance and aligning the nth hatch with the nth distance.

The method also may include the action of adjusting the measurementruler relative to the base such that when the loader pulls a treethrough the topping saw towards the measuring ruler, the hatches aresubstantially perpendicular to the tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is diagram of an exemplary operating environment for a logger.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a multi-length bucking attachment thatcan be used in conjunction with a knuckle boom or other similarequipment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the multi-length bucking attachment 200illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the multi-length bucking attachment 200illustrated in FIG. 2 in a retracted state.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a knuckle boom 100 and topping saw 110mounted to a logging trailer 120.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the knuckle boom 100 and topping saw 110mounted to a logging trailer 120 with the multi-length buckingattachment 200 attached.

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of the multi-length bucking attachment whenit the state of being ready to make a cut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention, as well as features and aspects thereof, isdirected towards providing an apparatus and a method for bucking trees,and more particularly, an apparatus to be used in conjunction with aknuckle boom or similar machine to identify the cutting points on a treeto create a log of specific length.

Bucking is the process of determining where to cut a tree in order toproduce the longest log possible or, to obtain a log of a specificlength. A single tree may produce one or more logs and some amount ofbranches and tops. The logs are generally sent to a sawmill to beconverted into various types of lumbers. As such, depending on whichsawmill the logs are destined to go and the purpose for the logs, theremay be certain length requirements for the logs.

As an exemplary example, many sawmills are set up to receive and processlogs in one or more of the following lengths:

33 feet 37 feet 41.5 feet 45.5 feet

49 feet, as non-limiting examples.

When bucking a tree, there may be crotches, diseased areas, and otherfaults that must be cut out of a log. Thus, the length of a log may begoverned by the location of the faults in the tree. Because nature tendsto be random, one skilled in the art can appreciate that the buckingprocess may prevent a logger from making all of the logs the samelength.

FIG. 1 is diagram of an exemplary operating environment for a logger. Inthe illustrated environment, a knuckle boom tractor 100 is beingoperated in conjunction with a topping saw 110. The knuckle boom, suchas a CAT 599D, includes a cabin 102 and a boom 104. The distal end ofthe boom 104 includes a claw 106 that is used to pick up and move thetrees/logs. The topping saw 110 is used to de-limb a tree and then cutthe tree into log of a certain length. A typical topping saw includes acradle 112 for receiving trees, de-limbing blades 116 and a saw blade114.

In operation, a logger will utilize the boom 104 to grasp a tree nearthe end or butt of the tree with the claw 106, and place the butt treeinto the cradle 112 with the butt end extending out one side of thecradle 112 and the rest of the tree extending out of the other end. Thelogger can then close the cradle 112 to cause the de-limbing blades 116to close around the trunk of the tree with the application of pressure.The logger can then use the boom 106 to pull the tree through thede-limber to strip the tree of branches. The knuckle boom 100 can pivotaround to pick up and place trees and logs. The topping saw is pivotallymounted to the trailer 120 so that as the tree is pulled through thecradle 112, the topping saw can rotate. This is due to the fact that asthe logger pivots the knuckle boom 100 around to pull the tree throughthe topping saw 110, the tree is moved towards a parallel positionrelative to the trailer, whereas when the tree is inserted into thecradle 112, the tree is closer to a 45 to 90 degree position relative tothe trailer 120. The logger can then move the de-limbed tree back andforth within the cradle 112 until it is set to the desired length. Thetop of the tree then falls into a pile along with all the branches, andthe logger can open the cradle 112 and move the log to a pile or aloader to be hauled to a sawmill.

As illustrated, the knuckle boom equipment 100 and the topping saw 110are typically mounted to a trailer such that the relative orientationand distance between the knuckle boom 100 and the topping saw does notshift. If the trailer 120 is moved, the knuckle boom 100 and the toppingsaw 110 remain in constant position relative to each other.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a multi-length bucking attachment thatcan be used in conjunction with a knuckle boom or other similarequipment. In general, the multi-length bucking attachment 200(“attachment”) can be attached to the knuckle boom or other equipmentand used to measure cuts to be made by a slasher and/or a topping saw.More specifically, the attachment includes base and a measurement rule.In the illustrated embodiment, the base includes two attachment plates202 that are used to connect the attachment 200 to the loggingequipment, such as a knuckle boom 100, the trailer 120 or to thesub-frame of the loader. The plates can be welded to the frame of thelogging equipment, secured in a connector or bolted to the equipment asillustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2 by the four bolt apertures 204in the plates 202. In an exemplary embodiment, the attachment is usedwith a CAT 559D. The CAT 559D includes factory bolts that are used tohold pins, outriggers and a finder. These bolts can be removed toaccommodate the attachment 200. However, it will be appreciated that theparticular means for connecting the attachment to the equipment and thetype and model of the equipment are simply provided as a non-limitingexample and the present invention is not limited to this particularlydescribed embodiment. Advantageously, by attaching the multi-lengthbucking attachment to the loader or logging equipment, more stability isable to be attained. It is anticipated that some embodiments may beconfigured to be installed on the ground separate from the loggingequipment (i.e. the platform or loader frame etc.) but that suchembodiments are more susceptible to being misaligned as the equipmentshifts during operation. But in the embodiments in which themulti-length bucking attachment hangs from the loading equipment (like abalcony or deck from a building) the attachment does not rest on theground but rather is suspended above the ground. Advantageously, thisembodiment can be used where the ground or terrain is not level withouthaving an effect on the operation. It will also be appreciated that insome embodiments, the multi-length bucking attachment may actually reston the ground but still be rigidly attached to the logging equipment tomaintain calibration. In other embodiments, the attachment may simplyinclude one or more telescoping legs to allow the attachment to besupported by the ground, wherein the telescoping legs allow the supportto be provided even if the ground is not level.

Each of the plates 202 include an extension arm 206. A proximate end ofthe extension arm 206 is connected to the plate 202. The extension arms206 can be welded to the plate 202 or attached by other means such asbrackets, bolts, sliding into a sleeve that is integral or attached tothe plate 202 or other similar techniques as non-limiting examples.

In the illustrated embodiment, the extension arms 206 are shown as beingtelescoped arms with three components: base 206 a, midsection 206 b andend 206 c.

Advantageously, this embodiment allows the attachment to be retractedwhen not being used and for transport, but then extended outward foroperation. This aspect also allows the attachment to be adjusted duringuse to ensure that it is in proper alignment. However, in someembodiments the extension arms may be rigid, include more telescopingcomponents, may be hinged to each other to allow them to fold up, can beattached to the plates 202 by means of a hinge to allow the extensionarms to be folded upward, etc. as a few non-limiting examples.

The measuring ruler includes a cross-member 208 and a plurality ofextension arms 206. The cross-member 208 is attached to the distal endsof the extension arms 206 of the base. The extension arms 206 aresubstantially parallel to each other in the illustrated embodiment, andthe cross-member 208 can be orthogonally related to the extension arms206 or can be adjusted to be at an angle. However, it should beappreciated that in other embodiments, the extension arms 206 may beangled inwardly or outwardly and the cross-member can be attached at anangle. The cross-member 208 provides stability and moves with theequipment in order to insure proper alignment and accurate measurementsconsistently during cutting. It should also be appreciated that in someembodiments, rather than two extension arms, a single extension arm canattach to the equipment and the cross-member attached to the end of theextension arm like a “T”. In other embodiments, more than two extensionarms can be utilized to improve stability.

In various embodiments, the cross-member 208 can be fixedly attached tothe extension arms 206, such as by welding, can be secured with bolts orbrackets, and/or can be secured with an adjustable mechanism to allowthe cross-member to be slid to different positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-member 208 is attached to theextension arms 206 using swivel arms 210 (as best seen in FIG. 3). Theswivel arms 210 in this embodiment advantageously allow the cross-member208 to be folded out for operational use or folded in when not in use orfor transport.

The cross-member 208 includes a plurality of hatch arms 212. The hatcharms 212 can be permanently attached to the cross-member 208 butpreferably are attached with a mechanism that allows the hatch arms 212to easily slide into different positions or removed all together. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the lines on a ruler arereferred to as hatch lines. In the multi-length bucking attachment, thearms extending from the cross-member 208 are referred to as hatch armsbecause they are used to set up the measurements for cutting the logs.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hatch arms 210 are metal tubes thatextend orthogonally from the cross-member 208. In operation, plastic orPVC pipes or tubes 214 can be slid into the tubes to extend the hatcharms 212 further into the measuring area. The PVC pipes 214 can besecured within the hatch arms 212 by a clamp or bolt to prevent themfrom falling out during operation. It should be appreciated that thehatch arms 212 can simply be longer and not require the PVC tubes 214 insome embodiments. Further, in other embodiments, the cross-member 208may include a plurality of holes that are used to receive PVC pipes andthus the entire hatch arm 212 would be a PVC pipe. The advantage ofincorporating PVC tubes into the hatch arms 212 is that they areflexible and will not bend when the hatch arms are inadvertently hit bya log or tree.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the multi-length bucking attachment 200illustrated in FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the attachment arm 200is fully extended and ready for operation. The swivel arms 210 arelifted into a position to allow the cross-member 208 and hatch arms 212to move outwards toward the measuring area.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the multi-length bucking attachment 200illustrated in FIG. 2 in a retracted state. Here, the extension arm 206has been retracted by sliding the middle section 206 b into the basesection 206 a, and the end section 206 c is slid into the middle section206 b. Bolts 220 can be tightened down to secure the extension arm 206into the retracted state. Further, swivel arm 210 has shown as beingswiveled downward thereby raising the hatch arms 212 into a morevertical orientation. It should be appreciated that in thisconfiguration, the equipment, such as a knuckle boom, than then be movedto a different location without damaging the attachment 200 or thecomponents thereof.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a knuckle boom 100 and topping saw 110mounted to a logging trailer 120. The boom arm 106 and claw 106 areshown as holding a tree 150 near the end. As the knuckle boom 100 pivotsclock-wise, the tree is pulled through the cradle 112 and the de-limbingblades 116 remove the limbs from the tree.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the knuckle boom 100 and topping saw 110mounted to a logging trailer 120 with the multi-length buckingattachment 200 attached. The extension arms 206 are attached to thelogging trailer 120 proximate to the knuckle boom 100. The cross-member208 is attached to the extension arms 206 at an angle to provideaccurate measurements as the tree, when pulled over the hatch arms 212may not be parallel to the logging trailer 120. The hatch arms 212 canthen be slid along the cross-member 208 to the precise locations tocorrespond with the desired cut lengths.

More specifically, because the knuckle boom 100 and the topping saw 110are mounted to the logging trailer 120, they remain fixed relative toeach other. As such, the logger can measure from the saw blade 114 andset the hatch arm 212 a to the precise length of the minimum cut size.The remaining hatch arms 212 can then be set relative to the first hatcharm 212 a (typically 4 feet apart but any required distance can be setsince the hatch arms 212 are full adjustable along the cross-member208).

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of the multi-length bucking attachment whenit the state of being ready to make a cut. In the illustratedembodiment, the tree has been pulled through the de-limber and the boom106 has been used to position the tree to align the end of the tree withhatch arm 212 b. The logger can now actuate the saw blade 114 to cut alog the precise length from the saw blade 114 to the hatch arm 212 b.

Thus, it should be understood that the multi-length bucking attachmentcan be attached to a logging configuration of FIG. 1 and calibrated foras many cut lengths as desired by simply adding hatch arms 212 at thedesired distance. In the logging operation, the logger can examine thetree to identify faults, and then make a cut to any of the hatch armlengths such that the fault can be eliminated from the cut log. Thelogger can thus then create logs of varying lengths without having touse a stick or measuring tape for each cut. Further, the logger canstack the logs based on their size as the different length logs may bedestined for different saw mills.

In some embodiments, the cross-member 208 may be preconfigured withhatch marks to help facilitate locating the various hatch arms atdesired measurement distances. It should also be appreciated that themulti-length bucking attachment 200 can be mounted to either the leftside or right side of the logging trailer. It should be furtherappreciated that the cross-member 208 may extend beyond the extensionarms such that longer or shorter cuts can be attained.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs, “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, areused to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are notnecessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements, orparts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions ofembodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are notintended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodimentscomprise different features, not all of which are required in allembodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present inventionutilize only some of the features or possible combinations of thefeatures. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that aredescribed and embodiments of the present invention comprising differentcombinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occurto persons of the art.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined bythe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cutting tree logs at one of aplurality of lengths, the method comprising the actions of: fixedlyorienting a loader and a saw relative to each other; attaching a basecomprising a first attachment plate and a second attachment plate to theloader or a logging trailer supporting the loader, wherein a firstextension arm comprising a proximal end that extends from the firstattachment plate and a second extension arm comprising a proximal endextends from the second attachment plate; pivotally coupling a firstswivel arm to a distal end of the first extension arm; pivotallycoupling a second swivel arm to a distal end of the second extensionarm; coupling a cross-member to the distal end of the first swivel arm;coupling the cross-member to the distal end of the second swivel arm;securing one or more measurement arms to the cross-member at a desiredcut length location along the cross-member; aligning an end of a treelog with one of the one or more measurement arms; and actuating the sawto create a log at one of the plurality of lengths.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the action of attaching one or more measurement arms tothe cross-member and securing the one or more measurement arms at adesired location along the cross-member comprises the actions of:measuring from a saw blade of the saw a first distance towards thecross-member and aligning a first measurement arm with the firstdistance; measuring from the first measuring arm a second distance andaligning a second measuring arm with the second distance; and measuringfrom the first measurement arm an nth distance and aligning an nthmeasurement arm with the nth distance.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the action of adjusting the cross-member relative to the basesuch that when the loader pulls a tree log through the saw towards thecross-member, the one or more measurement arms are substantiallyperpendicular to the tree log.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst extension arm and the second extension arm can be adjusted betweena retracted position and an extended position.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the first extension arm and the second extension arm extensionarm that can be individually adjusted between a retracted position andan extended position and wherein the action of adjusting thecross-member relative to the base comprises extending one extension armfurther than the other extension arm.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe cross-member is adjustably connected to the first and second swivelarms and further comprising the action of adjusting the cut lengths setby the measurement arms by the cross-member on the extension arms.
 7. Anapparatus that can be used for measuring lengths for cutting tree logs,the apparatus comprising: a base comprising one or more attachmentplates and one or more extension arms, wherein each of the one or moreattachment plates is coupled to a proximal end of one of the one or moreextension arms and wherein each of the one or more extension arms isadjustable between an extended state and a retracted state; one or moreswivel arms, with each of the one or more swivel arms being pivotallyattached to the distal end of one of the one or more extension armswherein the swivel arms can be pivoted between a deployed state andstored state; a cross-member that is coupled to the one or more swivelarms; and one or more measurement arms, wherein one or more of the oneor more measurement arms can be adjusted to a particular position alongthe cross-member by sliding the one or more of the one or moremeasurement arms along the cross-member between a first end and a secondend of the cross-member, whereby, the apparatus can be moved to anoperational state by adjusting the one or more extension arms to theextended state and adjusting the one or more swivel arms to the deployedstate and the apparatus can be moved to a transport state by adjustingthe one or more extension arms to the retracted state and adjusting theone or more swivel arms to the stored state.
 8. The apparatus of claim7, wherein each of the extension arms includes a plurality oftelescoping sections.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one ormore measurement arms are connected to the cross-member such that theyextend substantially perpendicular to the cross-member and away from theone or more attachment plates when the one or more swivel arms are inthe deployed state.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of theone or more measurement arms includes a metal rod that is coupled to thecross-member, and a plastic extension tube that is inserted into a endof the metal rod distal from the cross-member.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein each of the one or more measurement arms includes ametal tube that is coupled to the cross-member, and a plastic extensionthat is inserted into an opening of the metal tube that is distal fromthe cross-member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a connectionprovides for the angle relationship between the cross-member and the oneor more extension arms can to be adjusted.
 13. The apparatus of claim12, wherein each of the one or more swivel arms are attached by a hingedconnector to the distal end of one of the one or more extension arms,the cross-member is connected to an end of one of the one or more swivelarms distal from the hinged connector, and the one or more measurementarms are connected to the cross-member such that the angle of the one ormore swivel arms and the one or more measurement arms is 90 degrees,wherein the one or more swivel arms can be moved between the deployedstate, wherein the one or more swivel arms extend away from the one ormore extension arms such that the angle between the one or moreextension arms and the one or more measurement arms is greater than 90degrees, and a stored state, wherein the one or more swivel arms arepivoted towards the one or more extension arms such that the anglebetween the one or more extension arms and the one or more measurementarms is approximately 90 degrees.